Better days are here for World Record (WR) holder in the men’s 800m, David Rudisha. The Kenyan athlete and reigning Olympic Champion was in good form on Monday as he raced to a World Lead (WL) of 1:43.35 to win his event at the Gyulai István Memorial in Hungary.
Compatriots Jonathan Kitilit and Nicholas Kiplangat Kipkoech followed in 2nd and 3rd respectively with 1:44.16 and 1:44.90. Rudisha barely scraped through last month’s Olympic Trials in Kenya, finishing 3rd behind Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich. His latest performance is certainly a huge confidence booster ahead of next month’s Olympic Games in Rio.
World Indoor Champion Francine Niyonsaba won the women’s event, clocking a time of 1:59.84 to cross the finishing line ahead of USA’s Molly Ludlow (1:59.99) and Anastasiya Tkachuk (2:01.66) of Ukraine. The Burundian athlete has been impressive this season, and only ranks 2nd to South Africa’s Caster Semenya in the 2016 world rankings.
It was a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 in the men’s 1500m, with Silas Kiplagat taking the lead in 3:36.70, as Vincent Kibet and Collins Cheboi followed in 3:36.83 and 3:37.33, while Mathew Kiptanui finished in 4th place in 3:38.29.
Homeboy Balázs Baji won the men’s 110 Hurdles in 13.33s, upstaging African Champion Antonio Alkana who came in 2nd in 13.44s, with Germany’s Julian Marquart placing 3rd in 13.78s.
It was another competition to forget for World Leader Omar McLeod who was disqualified for an infringement. This follows the Jamaican’s disappointing outing at the Monaco Diamond League last weekend where he crashed to the ground, eventually finishing 8th in the event.
However it was a good outing for World Indoor Champion in the 60m Hurdles, Nia Ali as she secured a much needed victory in the 100m Hurdles, clocking 12.76s, with team mates Jacquelyn Coward (12.96s), Raven Clay (13.13s) and Queen Harrison (13.20s) trailing in her wake.
Japan’s Keisuke Nozawa (49.26s) was the man to beat in the 400m Hurdles, while former World Championships Bronze medallist LJ Van Zyl came through in 2nd (49.78s), and Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (49.79s) 3rd. Great Britain’s Rhys Williams (50.01s), Bahamian record holder Jeffery Gibson (50.22s) and former World Champion Jehue Gordon (50.43s) complete the line-up.
Hanna Titimets of Ukraine emerged the surprise winner in the women’s 400m Hurdles, returning a time of 55.15s to take the win ahead of USA’s duo of Cassandra Tate (55.21s) and Ashley Spencer (55.94s).
Photo Credit: www.theguardian.com
